A TEENAGER from Accrington has become the youngest middleweight kickboxer to win the English title.

Mikey Worswick, 17, of Springhill Road, picked up the English crown after defeating Britain’s number six Danny Houghton, from Liverpool in seven rounds in Blackburn.

Mikey topped the bill at Kokoro promotions "Fight Night" last Friday and delighted the watching crowd by clinching an unexpected victory with a points decision after seven rounds.

Former Rhyddings pupil Mikey said: "I'm really pleased, it was a good fight. I've only been fighting for four-and-a-half years so it has given me a lot of confidence to keep going."

Mikey, who won the North West area title earlier this year as an amateur, would normally start kickboxing professionally when he reached 18.

But coach Jason Curtis from Kokoro Gym in Dale Street, said he has progressed so well they decided to enter him early.

Jason said: "My idea was to keep him as an amateur and to build up his experience but I wasn’t able to get him a match because no-one was fighting.

"He's always fought adults and began fighting full contact so I decided to enter him into the pro ranks and he’s done fantastically well.

"He fought seven rounds and it’s the first time he’s fought as many as that.

"He's a really talented lad, his experience has come a long way very quickly. He can now step up for the British title.

"He is one of my most dedictated fighters and we have asked the officials and they think he is the youngest in Britain to win that title."

Mikey, who is training in bricklaying and building at Accrington and Rossendale College, says he will now train for his next fight in Blackpool on 29 November and will go on to compete for the professional British middleweight title. "My goal is to become world champion," he said.

KOKORO promotions are organising a fight day on Sunday, 29 November at Liquid Nightclub in Blackburn.